My Kohler won't stay running!
 

My CH20 Kohler in my 2518-48 has ran perfect for the last 11 years or so. This last weekend it wouldn't start and stay running (backfiring through the carb). It would only run with the starter still engaged and its drowning in gas. The spark plug on the left is blacker than coal all full of soot. The one on the right looks fine. I had access to another carburetor and that is not the issue. Why is it getting so much gas and why is just the one spark plug fowling?

Thanks in advance.

Bob

I would suggest looking at your VALVES.

I didn't think to place my finger over the left spark plug hole to see if there was compression. I'll try that tonight when I get home. I'm confused about all the gas. Is that normal with valve issues? Seems like the fuel pump is on steroids.

Bob

sounds like a compression or spark issue,your engine has 2 coils one for each cyl.

Pull the head. It either dropped an exhaust valve seat, or blew the head gasket. Or both.

If the cylinder is dead the gas going into it will not burn. As others said check the compression and ignition on that cylinder first

I seem to have good compression on both cylinders using the finger over the spark plug hole method. It will 'try' to run if I have the choke on. Soon as I begin to take the choke off it starts backfiring through the carb. It spits gas up through the narrow port on the back left side of the carb before it floods out. I remove both plugs and they're wet with gas.

Bob

I won't offer much help beyond don't use the "finger over spark plug hole" test method for compression unless you can read PSI with your finger. Rent a compression tester from Auto-zone, O'Reilly's, etc. and report back. It'll provide a LOT more info than "I seem to have good compression on both cylinders using the finger over the spark plug hole method.".

I have a1711 that was doing that it was the condenser:bigthink:

The CH20 that the OP is asking about doesn't have a condenser on it. :bash2: